What's the best-selling smartphone in the world? According to a new report released today, the top spot for the third quarter goes to Samsung's flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III, or S3 as some call it for short.

The report from Boston-based Strategy Analytics used research from its Country Share Tracker service. It found the Galaxy S III overtook Apple's iPhone 4S to become the best-selling smartphone in the recently completed third quarter. This is the S3's first time in that spot, but it may not enjoy that limelight for long.

The Samsung device shipped 18 million units worldwide in Q3, capturing 10.7 percent market share for smartphones. Its popularity with consumers and carriers in North America, Asia and Europe, is attributed by the research firm to its large touchscreen, as well as an extensive distribution channel in dozens of countries, and substantial operator subsidies.

In comparison with the Galaxy S3's 18 million units in the third quarter, Apple shipped an estimated 16.2 million of the iPhone 4S.

Waiting for iPhone 5

But Strategy Analytics echoes a widely held assessment that buyers held off buying Apple's 4S in the third quarter because they were waiting for the upcoming release of the iPhone 5.

During Q3 alone, the new iPhone 5 sold an estimated six million units. The research firm said it expects the iPhone to regain its title as the most popular smartphone in fourth quarter. In the first three days of the iPhone 5's availability in stores, for instance, Apple sold about five million units.

Nevertheless, the popularity of the Samsung device is clearly growing by leaps and bounds. Its third quarter sales were more than triple the 5.4 million units sold in the second quarter. Its market share also tripled, increasing from 3.5 percent up to 10.7.

In the five months since its release, the Galaxy S3 has sold 30 million units, including worldwide pre-orders of over nine million, and Samsung, like Apple, has pursued a strategy of releasing it widely through multiple carriers. In fact, the S3 has clearly established itself as the iPhone's main competitor.

The Venerable Galaxy S Line

The competition, and the many comparisons in industry press between the two devices, is also being carried out in courtrooms, as the S3's interface and other features figure into the continuing worldwide legal battle between Apple and Samsung over intellectual property rights.

The first Galaxy S was released in 2010, and the company's Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab have also sold well.

The S3 uses the Android 4.0 operating system, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich. It offers a large, 4.8-inch high-definition Super AMOLED screen with up to 720p resolution, and boasts 2 GB of memory and 4G LTE.

Like the iPhone's Siri, the Galaxy S3 has an intelligent voice agent called S Voice that accepts verbal commands. For example, if the phone's alarm rings, a user can say "snooze" to the phone to turn it off. S Voice also accepts commands to play specific songs, turn up the sound volume, organize your schedule or send emails, among other functions.

Tell Us What You Think

Comment:

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JackLR:

Posted: 2012-11-08 @ 7:38pm PT

Got my hands on an S3 for the first time today; it is a beautiful phone loaded with features. More innovation that what I have seen of the the iPhone 5.

donnbh:

Posted: 2012-11-08 @ 7:20pm PT

The title should be "Move Over iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy S III Takes First Place".. lol

Samantha:

Posted: 2012-11-08 @ 7:02pm PT

Around here, all that's talked about is the iPhone, but personally, I prefer the Galaxy. Dare to be different!

HarryGio@MSN.com:

Posted: 2012-11-08 @ 6:57pm PT

Once I saw the Galaxy SIII, I gave my iPhone away after just owning it for 3 days... It was useless and definitely Over-Rated... Steve Jobs was a GREAT man and will be missed, because without his vision, Samsung would be still making 19" TV sets for Kmart.

Mark:

Posted: 2012-11-08 @ 6:44pm PT

All I know is the iPhone still dominates. Everyone I know either has the iPhone or wants the iPhone.

Steve Jobs (not):

Posted: 2012-11-08 @ 6:39pm PT

I have seen only a few people with iPhone 5, but countless people with an GSIII. Personally, you know what, I hate iPhone and its monoply in smartphones which will last for just 1 more year max. Then iPhone will be part of history just like its founder.

Troy:

Posted: 2012-11-08 @ 6:11pm PT

@Jackson Apparently you must have missed the other 29,999,997 people that have them.

mikesall2000:

Posted: 2012-11-08 @ 6:02pm PT

I wish that Samsung Galaxy S3 would do Arabic language like the iPhone and I hope that Samsung will look into that.

Jackson:

Posted: 2012-11-08 @ 5:50pm PT

I have seen only a few people with a GSIII, but countless people with an iPhone 5 now. Personally, I'm trying Windows phones now.